[Interview] Director and writer of "Tempest" - "And Gang Dong-won" Screen Time Issue? A Distortion... He's a Special Being"

Director Kim Hee-won-II and writer Jeong Seo-kyeong of the Disney+ series "Tempest" have addressed the controversy surrounding actor Gang Dong-won's screen time.

Advertisement

In an interview held on the morning of October 2nd at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno, Seoul, Director Kim said, "I heard there was some talk about screen time credits at the production presentation, but I'm not sure where those rumors came from or how they got distorted".

The issue arose when Gang Dong-won, initially announced as a lead actor, was credited as "And Gang Dong-won" in the show's opening titles, sparking speculation that his role had been reduced to more of a special appearance than a main lead.

Kim explained, "If you watched until the very end, you'd know that his character leaves a lasting impression all the way through. We approached the project like making one long film. In both Hollywood and Korean cinema, it's not unusual to use 'And' for characters who leave a strong impact. His role is pivotal to the story's ending and the mystery surrounding his character's fate. We thought crediting him with 'And' would make his presence linger even more. It wasn't about ranking names before or after; it was about reflecting the lasting weight of his character".

Writer Jeong Seo-kyeong added, "I honestly think Gang Dong-won and Jun Ji-hyun are the pride of our series, so it's natural that this kind of debate would follow. Gang Dong-won's character is a difficult one to play, there isn't much dialogue, so he has to convey his presence through acting alone. I'm grateful and deeply moved that he took on such a challenging role. If anything, instead of just 'And', we felt it deserved phrases like 'Especially', 'Truly', or 'Sincerely' Gang Dong-won. That's how special his position in the series is".

"Tempest" follows Moon-joo (Jun Ji-hyun), a celebrated UN ambassador, as she uncovers the truth behind a presidential candidate's assassination attempt. Alongside her is San-ho (Gang Dong-won), a mysterious special agent with no official nationality who must protect her as they face a massive conspiracy threatening the Korean Peninsula. The series released its final episode on October 1st.

The show achieved notable success, reaching #2 worldwide in Disney+'s Top 10 TV Shows category, according to FlixPatrol.

"Tempest" brings together a powerhouse creative team: writer Jeong Seo-kyeong ("The Handmaiden", "Decision to Leave", "Little Women"), director Kim Hee-won-II ("Vincenzo", "Little Women"), and action director–turned-filmmaker Heo Myeong-haeng ("The Roundup: Punishment").

The series marks the first-ever collaboration between stars Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won. Hollywood actor John Cho also makes his debut in a Korean original series, alongside a stellar supporting cast including Lee Mi-sook, Park Hae-joon, Kim Hae-sook, Yoo Jae-myung, Oh Jung-se, Lee Sang-hee, Joo Jong-hyuk-I, and Won Ji-an.